About
A Guide, Not a Guru
Forty years of leading organizations taught me this: clarity comes from experience, not expertise.
I’ve sat where you’re sitting.
In my fifteen years as a college president, I encountered strategic pivots, demanding financial goals, governance complexities, and staff conflicts—often in moments that required 3 a.m. prayerful decisions without a playbook.
I’ve celebrated breakthrough moments and made mistakes I’d rather forget. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking better questions and creating the conditions for others to thrive.
Today, I work alongside leaders who are ready to stop managing symptoms and start addressing root causes. Not as a consultant with a binder of best practices, but as a fellow traveler who’s been down similar roads.
The Journey
Why “Oxygen for Leaders”?
Anyone who has spent time in the Himalayas knows the danger of going too high, too fast. No matter how strong or ambitious a climber may be, the mountain always wins if you ignore altitude.
The same principle applies to organizations. Leaders often push for growth, scale, and speed—only to find their teams gasping for air. The mission statement sounds inspiring, but the culture can’t breathe. Strategy looks brilliant on paper, but execution suffocates under competing priorities.
“Oxygen isn’t the summit. It’s what makes the summit possible.”
That’s what I help leaders find: the organizational clarity that makes ambitious goals achievable. Not more strategies. Not more initiatives. Just the rare ability to see clearly when everything feels uncertain.
EDUCATION
Academic Foundation
Ph.D.
Organizational Leadership
M.B.A.
Business Administration
B.A.
Liberal Arts
EXPERIENCE
Four Decades of Leadership
Ministry & Nonprofit Leadership
Executive leadership roles in church administration, developing expertise in faith-based organizational management, staff development, and mission-driven culture building.
Financial Services Leadership
Leadership positions in banking, building foundational skills in strategic planning, risk management, and organizational operations in highly regulated environments.
Early Career
Formative experiences that shaped a leadership philosophy grounded in service, integrity, and the relentless pursuit of clarity.
PARTNERS IN LIFE & MINISTRY
Ed & Kay
For over four decades, Ed and Kay have shared life, ministry, grandparenting adventures, and more laughs than should be legally allowed. Together, they’ve raised two daughters and built a marriage grounded in faith, joy, and a shared commitment to encouraging others.
While Ed helps leaders find clarity, Kay brings her own gift—a lifetime of speaking, singing, and helping people find joy in the journey. A former Miss Alabama Teenager and seasoned performer, Kay has shared her unique blend of wit, wisdom, and gospel hope everywhere from Billy Graham Crusades to small-town women’s retreats.
Her new book, Ever Laughing Life, is a heartfelt reminder that faith and fun are not mutually exclusive—and sometimes, the best way to heal a heart is through a holy chuckle.
MY APPROACH
What You Can Expect
I won’t hand you a playbook or pretend I have all the answers. Instead, I’ll ask questions that help you see what’s really happening beneath the surface. I’ll share hard-won lessons from my own journey—including the failures.
Together, we’ll work to create the clarity your organization needs to breathe, lead, and flourish.
— Ed
Ready to see clearly?
Let’s start with a conversation. No pressure, no sales pitch—just an honest exploration of where you are and where you want to go.